The seasonal staff application for 2019 is now available. Please follow the links at the bottom of this page for more information on how to apply.

Who We Look For

Camp Rising Sun counselors are passionate, caring, and skilled individuals with a strong commitment to our goals and mission. Counselors model positive behavior and mentor campers as they step outside their comfort zones and take on new roles. Our counselors are highly attentive to the needs of the community and take time to give and receive feedback. Staff members at Camp Rising Sun are chosen for many of the same reasons that the campers are. They embody the intellect, character, evidence of leadership, and individuality that will contribute in positive ways to the community created over the summer. It is the staff member’s role to guide the campers through thoughtful questioning, to push the campers to their best thinking and decision making as campers take on leadership responsibilities that will affect themselves and their community, and to give feedback for growth after an experience.

Staff Responsibilities

While staff members each specialize in a program area, all counselors are first and foremost general counselors. Primary responsibilities, regardless of position, include:

Participate in all scheduled activities. Daily program typically starts at 8:30 AM and ends at 10:30 PM with minimal breaks.

Supervise campers overnight (most counselors sleep in platform tents with a group of 3-4 campers).

Assist in large-scale and community-wide projects, productions, or activities.

Act as Counselor of the Day on a rotating basis; manage the daily staff schedule, complete required checklists, and work directly with one or two campers as a mentor as they lead the camp program on that day.

Participate in regular meetings with the Camp Director and staff team.

Participate in Program evaluation and self-evaluation.

Give multiple instructions (90 minute workshops) over the course of the summer on personal or program area expertise.

Maintain a substance-free campus.

Working at Camp Rising Sun for a summer includes full room and board. Staff are given one day off per week and two hours off per day. Be prepared to spend your summer surrounded by amazing individuals from around the world in an environment full of many shared community spaces.

Positions

Candidates should be highly skilled and proficient within the program areas for which they are applying, and have special training, education or experience in these areas. Again, all staff members (with the exception of administrative, medical, and kitchen staff) are first and foremost general counselors, and their program area duties donot take priority over participating in all other aspects of the daily program.

Seasonal positions are listed below. If you are interested in a position that is not listed below, please contact us and/or consider applying as a volunteer counselor or visiting camp to give an instruction over the summer.

We are also hiring an Assistant Camp Director for 2019. If you are interested in a director position, please click here.

Medical Director / Assistant Medical Director

REQUIREMENTS

Must be licensed emergency medical technician, physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, registered nurse or licensed practical nurse licensed to operate in the state of New York.

Communicate with health care providers to make appointments, arrange for hospitalization, and set up follow-up care, as needed.

Communicate any reportable illnesses or injuries to the local Health Department.

Maintain camper and staff health records, including incident reports, in a confidential and professional manner.

Maintain and dispense prescription and over-the-counter medications, in accordance with standing orders, in a safe manner.

Communicate with parents about campers' medical conditions, as needed.

Maintain adequate supplies in the Health Office and at other locations, such as the pool, vans, and the hiking trip first aid kits.

Purchase and organize supplies within a budget; Track all spending.

The Assistant Medical Director assists in all of the above, as well as serving as acting Medical Director when Medical Director is off-site.

Kitchen Director / Chef

REQUIREMENTS

Educated and/or experienced in running a large-scale kitchen and in planning large-scale meals (3 meals per day for on average 80 people).

Experience cooking for vegetarian, vegan, and other dietary needs

Experience maintaining a predetermined budget.

Experience planning healthy, well-balanced menus.

Experience managing kitchen staff preferred.

Experience working with youth preferred.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Plan and prepare meals for approximately 80 people each, from diverse, international backgrounds, including accommodation for special dietary restrictions, and allergies, including daily vegetarian, and possibly vegan, options.

Organize and supervise kitchen staff (1-2 cooks) and campers working in the kitchen.

Drama Counselor

Assist and encourage campers to perform scenes and other theatrical works at weekly talent shows and special events.

Encourage campers to engage creatively in the performing arts and collaborate with other program areas on drama-related activities.

Purchase supplies and manage the approved budget for drama activities.

Music Counselor

Coordinate Instructions on music theory, appreciation, composition and performance of a wide range of musical genres, with an emphasis on World Music.

Encourage and lead the singing of Camp songs after meals as an important community-building exercise. Must know or be willing to learn CRS songs.

Assist and encourage campers to perform in weekly talent shows and special events.

Organize and manage rehearsal areas, equipment and supplies within the budget.

Encourage campers to engage with music across a wide range of abilities and experience; collaborate with other program areas on music-related projects.

Athletics Counselor

Coordinate Instructions on sports, fitness, and healthy living.

With campers, organize athletic activities where all campers feel included and encouraged to participate.

Encourage campers to share sports and games from their home countries.

Journalism & world affairs Counselor(s)

Coordinate Instructions, Evening Programs and other opportunities for discussion and content creation on topics such as world affairs, creative writing, politics, journalistic and media ethics, social media, critical literacy, current events, etc.

Assist and mentor campers in the publication of journalism projects (blogs, op-eds, magazines, etc.) as well as a Camp yearbook at the end of each session.

Manage journalism & world affairs office, equipment, and supplies within a budget.

Work with campers to help them express their perspectives in debates, on panels, or in informal conversations.

Wilderness (Camping) counselor

With a team of 2-3 counselors, coordinate and lead overnight (2-night, 3-day) camping trips to develop leadership, teamwork skills, and group dynamics.

Coordinate Instructions to prepare campers for hikes and environmentally sustainable practices. Topics can include how to effectively select equipment and pack for trips, set up and manage a campsite, fire building, wilderness first aid, handling emergency situations, leave no trace principles, and safety procedures.

Guide exploration of the camp grounds, such as trails, and encourage learning through the camp's environment.

The Louis August Jonas Foundation (LAJF) and Camp Rising Sun (CRS) have a long-held commitment to the principles of diversity, stemming from our mission. In that spirit, LAJF and CRS do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, nation of origin, gender, sex, or gender identity.